The International Fund for Ireland (IFI) has announced a significant funding package of €3,972,188 to further support peacebuilding initiatives across Northern Ireland and the southern border counties.
Eleven projects will receive support to continue their work with the most marginalised communities who have yet to receive any substantial dividends from the Peace Process.
Two Donegal projects have been awarded funding through the Communities in Partnership Programme (CiPP) and Personal Youth Development Programme (PYDP).
Donegal Local Sports Partnership & Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership has been awarded €185,086 through CiPP for the 24-month cross-border ‘Community Active Play’ Project which will connect the staff and volunteers of community groups and resident’s associations north and south, to build the capacity of leaders to plan, co-ordinate and to run play programmes and events.
Inishowen Development Partnership has received €159,804 through PYDP for two years for the ‘CHANCE’ Project, which will deliver Good Relations training, Personal Development, Education, Employability and Social Development to 16 vulnerable young people in isolated, rural areas across the Inishowen Peninsula.
IFI Chair Paddy Harte, welcomed the latest financial package; “This support comes at a critical time in our peacebuilding journey. Whilst we acknowledge much progress has been made since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement over 25 years ago, it is apparent that significant challenges remain.
“Our projects are working against a challenging backdrop. Tensions remain around increased paramilitary activity and recruitment of young people, sectarianism, criminal activity, anti-social behaviour, culture, and identity. We also understand that the fallout from the Windsor Framework has caused some communities to regress creating further polarisation.
“The IFI remains one of the few organisations that can engage with the most marginalised in society. We are committed to working closely with communities through sensitive dialogue and conflict resolution to tackle the difficult remaining areas of peacebuilding.”
The Peace Impact Programme is receiving €340,990/ £301,761 to work through sensitive interventions in communities that have not previously, or have only partially, participated in peacebuilding and reconciliation activities. In the last year over 30,000 people have taken part in capacity building, training or attended events with PIP funded projects.
Projects funded will engage with communities and deliver initiatives in Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, Cavan, Donegal, and Fermanagh.
IFI Chair Paddy Harte added; “We are living with the consequences of conflict across the world, and I want to acknowledge the efforts of peacemakers everywhere, working hard with communities to transition towards peace and create positive leadership. Thanks to the ongoing support of our international donors, we will continue our peacebuilding efforts to help create a shared future where everyone can benefit.”
The IFI was set up by the British and Irish Governments as an independent international organisation in 1986 and is supported by international donors- the Irish and British Governments, the United States of America, the European Union, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It delivers a range of peace and reconciliation initiatives across Northern Ireland and the southern border counties. It currently supports a total of 81 projects in Northern Ireland and 20 in the southern border counties.
